MALLY PRIEST

Sao Camilo Women + Children’s Healing Hospital is located in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The general design direction for our project was to focus on women + children, specifically pediatrics, perinatal + neonatal care, women’s health, + infectious diseases specifically relating to women and children, such as the Zika virus. With this location, came the challenge of the rising epidemic of the Zika virus. We had to plan for an isolated area to treat this infectious disease because of the possibility of it becoming airborne. In order to plan for this area, we had to design solutions that would help with the treatment + suppression of the virus, such as a fire barricaded wall, separate isolation rooms, + the use of special materials + equipment to halt the spread of the virus. We basically needed to create a confined, separate, + specialized hospital within the main structure of the building. We also had to keep in mind the potential threat of air + water quality related issues within the hospital + cases that came through the door, by budgeting for clean + sustainable air + water filters. We also included a “one-stop-shop” within the hospital that includes a general practitioner, optometrist, + pharmacy. The general design direction we created is a healing + therapeutic environment with a youthful + energetic feel. With an inspiration of the natural environment, we focused on natural healing by including day lighting, gardens, + a nature-inspired color palette. Our goal was to create a hospital that offers affordable healthcare + a comfortable environment for the area’s low-income families, while still offer- ing the luxury of a well-designed healthcare facility.